OMEGAmania sweeps the world - World Record prices paid at Auction on April 14+15, 2007

All 300 Lots were sold at a total sum of $ 5,540,000 !

What do James Bond 007, NASA, Michael Schumacher, Cindy Crawford, Ian Thorpe, Michael Phelps and Nicole Kidman have in common?

Correct, they all tick to the same famous brand watch - OMEGA.Switzerland.

On February 15, 2007, OMEGAmania-Antiquorum, the world's premier auctioneer, hosted a thematic auction of 300 OMEGA collector's timepieces including Daniel Craig's "Planet Ocean" watch from "Casino Royale", the "MIR watch" that remained in space for a year, and the "Seamaster Professional" worn by Pierce Brosnan in "Tomorrow Never Dies".

The event took place at the Penthouse Suite of the Regent Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills and attracted many watch enthusiasts, collectors and special guests, among them Charlie Sheen and Marcia Gay Harden.

The exhibit included big screen presentations putting the famous watches in context with their actual historical meaning and event. The 12-city world tour will end in Geneva, Switzerland on April 14 and 15, 2007 where the auction will be held with a live satellite link to the Basel World Watch Fair in Switzerland.

The "Seamaster Casino Royale" worn by Daniel Craig

during filming of "James Bond 007 - Casino Royale"

The James Bond 007 OMEGA watch collection

Image Courtesy of OMEGA

Image Courtesy of OMEGA

OMEGA IN SPACE

On 1st March 1965, OMEGA's Speedmaster chronograph was "flight-qualified by NASA for all manned space missions" as the only wristwatch to have withstood all of the U.S. space agency's severe tests under conditions of zero gravity and magnetic fields, extreme shocks, vibrations and temperatures ranging from -18 to +93 degrees Celsius.

In the same month, the watch was for the first time worn officially on board the Gemini 3 mission.

In April 1970, the OMEGA Speedmaster rescued the Apollo 13 mission from a potential disaster, earning OMEGA the "Snoopy Award", the highest distinction awarded by the NASA astronauts.In another historical event, the Speedmaster was worn on the wrists of both the American astronaut Tom Stafford and the Russian cosmonaut Alexei Leonov during the historic Apollo-Soyuz space rendezvous. This was the first time the cosmonauts also wore the OMEGA Speedmaster.Ever since, the Speedmaster has been the official chronograph of all Russian manned space missions.

The greatest moment in the Speedmaster's history was undoubtedly 21 July 1969 at 02:56 GMT, when it recorded man's first steps on the Moon's surface. The Apollo 11 mission was a milestone in history and the Speedmaster became the first watch (and the only watch since) to be worn on the Moon. With this unique accomplishment came a unique nickname: the "Moon Watch".

Omega Speedmaster Missions and the first watch on the Moon, the "Moon Watch". (sold for $ 312,627)

NASA presented OMEGA with the "Snoopy Award" for its important role in bringing back the astronauts of Apollo 13.

As space exploration continued to break through new frontiers, the OMEGA Speedmaster was again selected by NASA in 1978 as its official chronograph for the new Space Shuttle programme following a new series of harsh tests.

The Speedmaster was later subjected to yet another gruelling test on board the Russian space station MIR between July 1993 and July 1994. The success of this exceptional test is attested by a certificate initialled by the MIR crew. The OMEGA Speedmaster had become the most tested watch in the world.

OMEGA watches and precision timing devices have played a major role throughout history and below is a brief timeline and a couple of the company's most memorable accomplishments:

OMEGA main product introductions

- 1885 GURZELEN PATENT 19'''

- 1900 First OMEGA wristwatch

- 1916 Military watches

- 1925 Ladie's Jewellery watch

- 1929 OMEGA clip watch

- 1942 30''' Chronomètre

- 1947 "Cosmic" Moon Phase

- 1948 First OMEGA Seamaster

- 1952 First OMEGA Constellation

Eidgenoessisches Schuetzenfest Bern 1910, Prize

OMEGA, a trusted brand

- Olympic Games OMEGA was the first company to be entrusted with the official timekeeping of all disciplines at the Los Angeles Games in 1932 using chronographs and stop-watches developed by its subsidiary Lémania. OMEGA's association with the Olympic Games led to well over half a century of pioneering developments in the field of sports timekeeping.

The "Tomorrow Never Dies" Seamaster worn by Pierce Brosnan on the set during filming of "James Bond 007 - Tomorrow Never Dies" in 1997.

Top Right: The OMEGA James Bond 007 Limited Edition watch shows a version of the classic gun barrel logo. It was one of the first 007 watches featuring Omega's Co-Axial Escapement, a proprietary OMEGA technology that drastically reduces the amount of friction in the heart of the automatic mechanism and provides long-term reliability and accuracy.

This particular specialty watch is not part of the auction.

Left: The "Casino Royale Planet Ocean" sprinkled with dirt from being used during filming. Since Daniel Craig did many of his own stunts in "James Bond - Casino Royale", the watch endured major abuse.

Right: The "Seamaster Casino Royale", also worn by Daniel Craig during filming of the latest James Bond movie.

(sold for $ 213,000)

Michael Schumacher is regarded as the best racing driver ever and the most notable figure in the recent history of Formula 1. He has won 6 further World Champion Titles since his first in 1994. In 1995, he demonstrated his driving skills and great racing potential by becoming the youngest double Formula 1 World Champion.

A highly generous person, dedicated to helping create a better world, he has funded projects for the construction of a school in Senegal, a clinic in Sarajevo and a centre for street children in Peru. As one of OMEGA's first ambassadors, Michael Schumacher sets a precious example worldwide and helps to make the impossible possible. OMEGA values such contributions highly.

Images Courtesy of OMEGA

OMEGA Ambassador since 1997 - Formula 1 Driver Michael Schumacher

Photographer was on assignment for "German World Magazine" - Photos taken with small compact camera